MU106 Great Composers
Sixties British Songwriters
"Move It"
Songwriters: Ian SamwellPublisher(s): Multiwood Music Ltd.
Musicians: Cliff Richard and the Drifters: Cliff Richard (vocal), Terry Smart (drums), and Ian Samwell (guitar). Session musicians include Ernie Shear (guitar) and Frank Clarke (acoustic bass)
YouTube: Cliff Richard and a subsequent version of the Drifters (soon to be renamed the Shadows) on the television show, Oh Boy! (no longer available)
Date of Recording: 24 July 1958
Location of Recording: EMI Recording Studios (#2), Abbey Road, London
Date of Release: 29 August 1958
Label and Number: Columbia DB 4178
Charts: 12 September 1958; UK #2
Producer: Norrie Paramor
Music Director / Arranger: Norrie Paramor
Engineer(s): Malcolm Addey
Other Information:
Samwell (Foster 2000: 158): I was in the studio expecting to play the opening riff, but Norrie said, "Ernie has a much better sound. Let him play it," So I showed him how to do it.... At the time, I felt that in the rest of the song, Ernie was playing Bill Haley licks, but in retrospect, he did a heck of a good job.... Also, we felt that we didn't want a stand-up bass player because that wasn't really rock 'n' roll anymore. It was time to move on—electric bass was better, so I was initially very disappointed when Norrie booked Frank Clarke on his enormous acoustic bass. But he was a terrific guy, and he played beautifully, with great energy.
Lyrics
| a. Come on pretty baby let's a move it and a groove it. Yeh let's shake oh baby shake oh honey please don't lose it. The rhythm that gets into your heart and soul. Let me tell ya baby it's called rock and roll. |
| b. They say it's gonna die but honey please let's face it. Well they just don't know what's a goin' to replace it. Ballads and calypso, they've got nothin' on real country music that just drives along. Well a move it. |
Form
| Section | Meas. | Text | Description |
| intro | 8 | -- | guitar solo; add drums, second guitar and bass |
| verse | 16 | a | vocal solo over ensemble ending with ensemble stop |
| chorus | 16 | b | as above without stop |
| break | 14 | -- | guitar solo (12-bar blues with two added measures at end) |
| intro | 4 | -- | guitar solo; add drums, second guitar and bass |
| verse | 16 | a | vocal solo over ensemble ending with ensemble stop |
| chorus | 16 | b | as above without stop |
| coda | *+ | b' | repeat hook and fade |